JAYFORCE

Skyzoo has released the first single, “Jansport Strings” (produced by 9th Wonder) to appear on his sophomore album, “A Dream Deferred” (out October 2, 2012). Skyzoo mentioned the label deal he inked with Duck Down Music when he last appeared on the Beatz & Lyrics Show with JayForce. Accordingly, the album will be released under the new imprint created from that deal, The Faculty Inc. “A Dream Deferred” will have features from Jill Scott, Talib Kweli, Raheem DeVaughn, Freeway, and more with production from 9th Wonder, and more. Shout to Shamz at OkayPlayer for the scoop on this one. Y’all enjoy this new Skyzoo! Keep reading for special commentary on “Jansport Strings”  from Skyzoo himself.

SKYZOO – JANSPORT STRINGS (PROD. BY 9TH WONDER)

‘The idea behind “Jansport Strings” is not based on it being literal, but more so in the figurative sense. As a kid in NY, the strings on your Jansport bag were a sign of power and presence. Kids would steal the strings off of each other’s bags and burn the tips to prevent getting robbed of them once they got them. The song is a 3 minute auto-bio of me as a kid in Brooklyn and seeing more than my friends and I had bargained for. In essence, my Jansport strings tied it all together, seeing what we all saw and what it made us. The ending is a clip from Video Music Box, the legendary NYC video show run by DJ Ralph McDaniels. This episode in particular was the debut of Chi-Ali’s “Age Ain’t Nothin But A Number.” Seeing that video that day on this episode of VMB made me start rhyming. This clip was literally the moment that changed my life.’ –Skyzoo